Revision as of 09:32, May 25, 2014

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Rim world speech

Truncate the "g" for "ing" words in spelling (final velar nasals become alveolar in speech) ("schoolin'")

Pepper with slang adjectives.

Double negatives. ("It don't mean nothin' out here.")

Using odd words and word forms in phrases.

Use "don't" instead of "doesn't."

Ain't.

Odd Words: druther, yonder, dang, plumb, right smart.

Prefixing "a" on gerunds ("a-runnin'").

No -ly on adverbs from adjectives. ("She described the plan real simple. That job's awful hard to do.")

Irregular verbs default to third person singular. ("We was goin' there. He got none of that.")

Malformed verbs. ("He growed up real good. He come by here last night. I seen it with my own eyes. He done run off again.")

A few examples...

"Looks like we got us some imminent violence."

"We got no short of ugly ridin' in on us."

"I'm just feeling kind of truthsome right now."

"We're in some peril here."

"We just need a small crew, them as feel the need to be free."

"This here's a recipe for unpleasantness."

"I'm shocked my own self."

"We'll be there directly."

"But she does have an oddness to her."

"So I trucked out to the border, learned to say "ain't" and came to find work."

Slang

Frontier life

A-grade

Top notch; quality

Aim

To want, try, or intend to do something.

All-fired

Completely. ("Where'd she go gettin' all-fired jealous 'bout this?")

Awful, Dreadful, Mighty, Plumb, Powerful

Adjectives for emphasis. ("Gettin' awful crowded in my sky.")

Back-berth

Stupid, naive, inexperienced, unimportant or "slow". Derived from the nautical term for a ship's position in a harbor. As a naval metaphor, a "back berth" would be the last ship out of port, i.e. one trailing at the rear of a fleet, therefore meaning slowest and/or of least importance.

Bang-up

Great. ("They did a bang-up job.")

Brainpan

Refers to the skull which encases the brain. Another way of saying 'head'.

Bughouse

Mental hospital.

Chinese Checkers

A game still played in the 'verse. Placed on booths and tables in bars and some such.

Spacefaring

Exactly what it sounds like. One of the vessels is manned by Agent Womack and his cronies are Fendis and Skunk.

Atmo

Atmosphere, as in to "leave atmo."

The black

Space.

Blowback

A vacuum effect created in the barrel of a firearm when it is discharged. Works in the same case for a ship going on full burn breaking atmo.

Clean your housing

To give a thorough beating (as in a spaceship's engine housing).

Dead in the Water

Floating, drifting; not going anywhere.

ETA

Estimated Time of Arrival. Pilot lingo.

Feds, Federals

Members of the Alliance, its military, law enforcement, or functionaries.

Fire it up

Start the ship.

Get this bird in the air

Launch the ship for take-off.

Go to blackout

Shut down power on the ship to avoid detection.

Go for hard burn/full burn

Burn through fuel cells; or fly fast.; use all engine power.

Green for...[docking, etc.]

Referring to the light on a console that signals all systems are standing by for whatever purpose the light correlates to. (landing, docking, taking off, etc.)

IAV

Interplanetary Alliance Vessel;

(Crazy) Ivan

Originally a submariner stunt/maneuver that was used to pull an pursuing vessle into attack range, usually used by the Soviet Navy. In this case it can be pulled on a ship with two side propelling engines in order to create a spinning motion. The engines are flipped so as to orient them in opposing directions long enough to pull a 180 degree turn. Once hydraulics are cut, it takes the lowering of a lever and the push of a button in the engine room, and it's good for going.

On the drift

In space without fuel unable to travel.

Reavers

Madmen who live on the edges of civilized space, flying dangerous ships and preying on other space vessels.

The Rim

Frontier planets, not the core.

Scow

A ship modeled after a large, flat-bottomed boat with squared ends. Used to haul bulky cargo (soil, sand, ore, etc). Can be retro-fitted to serve as transport vessels. They can hold between 15-20 families. Travelers pick them up cheap at government auctions. A few modifications and they serve well enough for a one-way push to the outer planets.

Skiff

A small ship (like a rowboat equivalent, but sky/space oriented) used in war.

Take the helm

Man the bridge. An old phrase that has transcended from the sailing days of Earth-that-was into the 2500s.

Trans-U

A commercial vessel. Old model; hardly ever in use anymore. One too many of them got hit by Reavers, likely.

The 'Verse

Inhabited space or the universe.

Being buzzed

Sensors from another ship are actively sweeping you.

Underworld

Doxy

Prostitute.

Drops

Illegal, addictive, narcotic drugs.

Second story job

Breaking and entering robbery.

Scratch

Valuables.

The goods

Loot.

Went south

Problems appeared, the plan fell apart.

Tonic

Amateur or illegal alcoholic drink.

Bushwhack

Ambush.

Footpad

Pickpocket thief in a town.

Hornswoggle

To trick someone.

On the dodge

Wanted by the police.

Technical

Advocate

A lawyer.

Cortex

Widespread information network.

Genseed

Genetically engineered crop seeds used on freshly terraformed worlds.

Skyplex

Orbital city or space station.

Wave

A communication: text, audio, video, or holographic.

Medical

3D Neuro-imager

A three dimensional provision of a brain scan. Simon uses one in the diagnostic ward at St. Lucy's hospital on Ariel.

BP

Abbreviation forblood pressure.

Byphodine

A med that slows the metabolic state so you can appear to be dead. Used in 'Ariel' and 'The Message'. Usually induces a vomiting side effect once it wears off.

Cardiac Infusers

Used to infuse whatever is needed in the heart to keep it working

Cortical Electrodes

By parsing the definition: a cortical is the outer layer of an internal organ or body structure. And an electrode is an electrical conductor meant to make contact with a nonmetallic circuit. Safe to assume that the said 'circuit' in this case would relate in a medical sense to the cortical.

Defibrillator

Gets electromagnetic currents to the heart in order to get it pumping again.

Dermal mender

A medical tool that mends severed skin—Simon got to use it for Mal's ear in the episode 'War Stories', thanks to the Counciller (a female client of Inara's) generously loaning the equipment for them to use.

DOA

Abbreviation for Dead on Arrival

Extractor

An instrument used to pull out things like bullet shards

Good Night Kiss

A narcotic compound, applied on the lips most often. Convenient for the low-and-dirty seducers who try and earn a swindle into their gig. Or for something of a more sinister nature, like Saffron in 'Our Mrs. Reynolds'.

Gurney

A transportable hospital bed/stretcher on wheels.

Hydrozepam

A medical supply worth about 200 credits. More costly than Isoprovaline and Propoxine combined. Use? Unknown. But Simon also originally had one provided in his med kit.

Hypodermic needles – aka Hypo.

Used to penetrate skin and allow liquids to either be injected or extracted. They serve a particularly good use in providing liquid meds that cannot be ingested (either because they're physically incapable, or the meds would be useless through a digestive tract.).

Hypo-gun

Used to hold vials of meds that are injected by the gun.

Isoprovaline

An immune booster. A common med, provided in Simon's med kit. Street value for a vial: Fifty platinum.

Medical monitor

Used to monitor vitals in patients hooked up to it.

Medvault

Where meds are located and stored in a hospital environment.

Propoxine

A medical supply that costs about 80 credits. Provided in Simon's personal med kit. Use? Unknown. But it's worth more than the Isoprovaline.

Pulmonary Stimulators

A method to stimulate major arteries. Usually a good idea if patients are cyanotic and unresponsive when attempting to resuscitate them.

“Pulse is thready”

Medical lingo. Thready refers to the strength of a patients pulse and not the rate, although they can often correlate. Thready means weak. The opposite of bounding or strong. Pulse rate is usually given in rate and rhythm. Bradycardic (Brady) and thready is slower than 60bpm (beats per minute) and weak while tachycardic (tachy) and bounding is faster than 100bpm and strong.

Standard Companion immunization package

Equipment provided for Inara from the guild, who graciously donates it to Simon in the first episode. Which materials are included in the package are unknown.

Syringe Gun

Inara keeps one such device in her chamber. It is fancier than the hypo-gun, with a an unmarked vial containing black liquied.

Vials

Used to store liquid meds such as smoothers (used to 'dope' patients)

Chinese phrases

The Chinese that became one of the two primary tongues of the 'Verse was originally known as Mandarin. China's official language, Mandarin (sometimes called Pekingese) was derived from the dialect once spoken in that country's northeast, primarily around the capital Beijing. Another major Chinese dialect was Cantonese, spoken down south in Guangdong Province. Way back in the Earth-That-Was days, the Chinese went through a brouhaha as to which of the two tongues to make official. Though no blood was shed far as we know, it was a verbal civil war. North and South fought with volleys of dead-waking hollers over the virtues of their respective cant. In the end, Mandarin won out as the national language. So instead of yat zeu, people shout qu si to tell folks to "go to hell."

Chinese is a very different tongue than English, and remains difficult for those who don't pick it up in their earliest years. Mandarin traditionally has four inflections—five if you count the fifth "soft" tone. You best enunciate each just right, or you might have folks scratching their heads, wondering why you're so upset about losing a shoe when you're really trying to alert them of a man overboard.

We said "traditionally", because in the 26th century, we go by New Chinese. Like English where new words constantly replace the old, and nobody utters the Earth-That-Was slang, Chinese got a makeover too. The progression of humans into a bilingual community evolved the original language into a newer stripped-down version. The main languages, Chinese and English, can each express certain subjects and ideas more efficiently. Over time, folks figured out what these were, and started replacing different parts of speech with whichever language related their thoughts the best. A doctor in the 26th century wouldn't hope to explain chi flow in English, for instance, any more than a control station would give docking instructions in Chinese.

Words and phrases became further streamlined—curmudgeon sticklers would say "corrupted." But only those reared in true Old Chinese-speaking households would complain, and the accessibility made it much easier for lower-class folk of English-speaking heritage.

Jung J'wohn Guo Hua (講中國話) Like a True Spacer

The above would read 'Speaking Chinese Like a True Spacer' in English. In humanity's new home, a collective of humans are able to swear in a 5,000+ year old language—with a cowboy twang.

The following phrases can be tossed into whatever situation seems most appropriate, or not. These just scratch the surface of possibilities for cursing in Chinese. While even educated, refined folk swear every now and then, you're more likely to hear most of these phrases out of a free-boosting fringe rat. Phrases are listed by the first letter of the phrase, and collected here thanks to Laura (Zoë's player) and the Serenity RPG.

A

A big pile of shit 一大坨大便

Yi Da Tuo Da Bian.

A switch to those girls' backsides is just good enough 鞭打她們的背就夠了

Byen Dah Tah Muhn Dug Bay Jo Go Lai.

Abracadabra-alakazam 天霛霛、地霛霛

Tian-Ling-Ling, Di-Ling-Ling.

Accusing someone of lying, a ridiculous notion, or talking out of one's ass 放屁

Fuhn Pi, literally "farting."

Agitate someone out of hiding 打草驚蛇

Da Chow Jing Ser, literally "beating the grass to startle the snake."

Alas, not good, crud!, what a mess, too bad 糟糕

Jao Gao, literally "spoiled cake."

All that's proper 所有的都適當

Suoyou De Dou Shidang. (Pronunciation: Suo-yo duh doh shr-dang)

Alliance 聯盟

Lien Mohn.

Do we have an understanding? Do you get it? 懂了嗎?

Dohn luh mah.

Ass, bottom, posterior 屁股

Pi Gu. (Pronunciation: Pee-goo)

Attributing an unfortunate longshot occurrence 夜路走多了總會見鬼

Yeh Lu Jwo Duo Luh Jwohn Whei Jian Guay, literally "do enough nighttime travels and one will eventually see a ghost"; also a warning of future retribution.

Ghuh or Ghuh-Ghuh, the former is more intimate and connotes blood relation.

Da-ghuh means "big brother" or "leader"

Big change 大變化

Da Bianhua.

Big sister 姊姊

Jieh or Jieh-jieh.

Big stupid pile of stinking meat 一大堆笨臭肉

Yi Da Dwei Bun Chou Roh.

Blessings on you, dear sister 祝福你、妹妹

Zhufu Ni, Mei-Mei. (Pronunciation: Tzoo-foo nee, mei-mei.)

Blindside or conspire against someone secretly 放冷箭

Fang Leng Jian, literally "shoot a cold arrow."

Bottoms up 乾杯

Gan Beyh, literally "dry cup."

Brilliant 精彩

Jing tsai

Browncoat

(slang for soldiers of Independent) Jone Yee.

C

Cheap Goods (Cheap Whore or Bitch) 賤貨

Jien Huo.

Check at once 馬上檢查

Ma Shong Jien Cha.

Cheering or urging someone on 加油

Jah Yoh, literally "add fuel," equivalent of "go (name)!" in English.

Choose the wrong method to handle a situation 抱薪救火

Bao Xin Jiu Huo, literally "bring wood to put out a fire."

Come in 請進

Ching Jin.

Commit blunder of great magnitude

Bie Woo Lohng.

Complete disarray or sheer pandemonium 天翻地覆

Tian Fan Di Fu, literally "sky tumbles while earth turns over."

Completely useless 天地無用

Tian Di Wu Yowng

Congratulations 恭喜

Gohn Shi.

Conniving or scheming person 鬼頭鬼腦

Guay Toh Guay Nown, literally "ghost head and ghost brain."

Cool 酷

Ku.

Oh, crap 糟糕

Tzao Gao.

Crap, shit 狗屎

Go shi

Crazy, go crazy 瘋了

Feng Le (Pronunciation: Fong luh)

Crazy dog in love with its own feces 愛吃自己的糞[的]狗

Ai Chr Jze Se Duh Fohn Diang Gho.

Cursing 罵髒話

Ma Jung Hwa, literally "chastise with dirty words."

Cute 可愛

Kuh Ai.

D

Damn or damn it 他媽的/該死/阿呀

他媽的 Ta Ma Duh (literally "his mother's..."), 該死 Gai Si, 唉呀 Ai Ya.

Dangerous person or animal 危險動物

Wei Shian Dohn Woo.

Dangly piece of flesh 戰抖的一塊肉

Zhan Dou De Yi Kuai Rou. (Pronunciation: Jan-doh duh ee-kwai-ro)

Daydream or wishful thinking 白日夢

Bai Rih Mohn.

Dear god in heaven 我的天阿

Wo De Tian A. (Pronunciation: Wuh de tyen ah).

Demon woman 妖女

Yao Nu.

Deserving of bad consequence or fate, "You asked for it!" "That's what you get!" 活該

Hwo Gai.

Despicable 可惡

Kuh Wu.

Dirty bastard sons-of—王八蛋

Wang Ba Dan. (Pronunciation: Wang bao dahn).

Do something for nothing in return, or wasted endeavour without a payoff 義演

Yee Yan, literally "a charity show."

Dog-fucking 狗操的

Gou cao de. (Pronunciation: Go tsao de)

Done for or imminent doom, screwed 完蛋

Wong Dahn, literally "finished (cooked) egg."

Don't worry 放心

Fang Xin. (Pronunciation: Fahng-sheen)

Down payment

Shi Yan.

Dumbass 蠢

Chwen, descriptive, literally "retarded."

E

Earthshaking

Jing Tian Dwohn Di, literally "startle the sky and shake the earth."

Engage in a feces-hurling contest with a monkey 跟猴子比丟屎

G'en Ho Tze Bi Dio Se (Pronunciation: Gun hoe-tze bee dio-se)

Enough of this nonsense 夠荒[ ]

Go Hwong Tong.

Everybody, shut the hell up 你們都閉嘴

Ni Men Dou Bi Zui.

Everyone in the 'Verse 天下所有的人 "All people under Heaven"

Tian Xia Suo You De Ren.

Everything under the sky, "All under Heaven" 天下

Tian Shia, can be used to allude to the world or universe.

Excrement 米田共

Mi Tian Gohn, slang, derives from the fact that when you stack the three characters - "mi" (rice), "tian" (paddy), and "gohn" (public or mutual) - from top to bottom in that order, they form the ideograph for excrement.